Pests Gallery

Tobacco hornworm with tobacco plant

Tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) with a damaged tobacco plant, artwork. This species is common throughout North America. Eggs (right, lower) are laid on the underside of the leaves of the tobacco plant (Nicotiana sp.). These hatch into larvae (right, second from bottom) that feed on the plant. Although the nicotine in the leaves is toxic to many organisms, the hornworm larvae are able to sequester and secrete it. The damage to the plant by feeding larvae can be seen on the lower leaves. The larvae bury themselves in the ground to form a pupa (right, second from top). After about 18 days the adult moth (right, top) emerges

© LIZZIE HARPER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Hurray for the Robinson Ray! by W. Heath Robinson

We are privileged to publish the first illustration of a Death Ray at it's dirty work. the top secret experiment was entirely successful, and as our picture shows, resulted in the slaughter of a slug from a top storey window. Please note: Credit must appear as Courtesy of the estate of Mrs J.C.Robinson/Pollinger Ltd/ILN/Mary Evans Date: 11th June 1924

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10410373

WW2 Poster -- Dysentery and Diarrhoea

Dysentery and Diarrhoea. Colour lithograph information poster, after 2nd Lt Stacey Hopper. The poster poses questions relating to the dangers and causes of disease, and provides helpful hints, with illustrations, on dealing with Flies and Filth. It was aimed, in particular, at British troops on active service in Italy during World War Two. Six vignettes illustrate how to prevent these illnesses: 1. Burn All Refuse 2. Keep Lid Down 3. Swat em 4. Trap em 5. Cover Food 6. Keep Swill-Bins Closed. Date: 1945

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library